As a powerful software tool, Microsoft Excel is a tool that people either hate or love. Those in the former category may still use it but for the bare minimum. However, those who love Excel, understand the power of it, and how it makes tasks efficient.
It can provide you with a quick fix. In a situation where you may need to update data, manually; you could be missing out on a formula that can do it.
With these tricks outlined below, you will rarely need MS Excel assignment help, and it will help you avoid manual work that is tedious, and less efficient:
1. MRound
When you want to work the numbers in your data, to a specified multiple, the MRound formula, comes in handy. It rounds numbers downwards or upwards in a prescribed value. This function is instrumental, primarily when working with figures that are very large.
In rounding the numbers, it makes the dataset easier to work with. It alters the value in the data and will, in turn, affect the result in the calculation. Whether the function rounds a value, up or down depends on the outcome after dividing the number by the multiple arguments, as specified.
2. Conditional Formatting
In your excel homework assignments, you may need to format the data using a particular formatting rule. This formula, changes the colour of a cell depending on the information, in it. Highlight the cells you want to use the function on, and from the Home menu, select “Conditional Formatting.”
A drop-down appears where you select the logic you would like to use, or create your own. Once done, click ok and the results will appear. It can apply automatic formatting to the cells with duplicate or specific values, and even if it has particular text.
You can also use this formula to turn the data set into a dashboard display icon, too.
3. V/HLOOKUPs
Sometimes you may need to reorganize information or pull out data from large datasets. Using the VLookup formula can help you save time when you have a report that has a substantial amount of information that you need to produce regularly and in a specific order.
Another alternative is LOOKUP. It all depends on what makes you comfortable. You can also use VLOOKUP to combine information in different spreadsheets into one. However, for the function to produce the intended results, the two should have a minimum of one column that’s identical in both.
4. IF Statement
In some instances, you may need to input some a different information into a corresponding cell. Generally, the formula is: IF (logical_test, value_if_true, value of false). Remember to use quotations for the information in the corresponding cells.
When you use quotations for the Value_if_true, the result will be in text format and not a number.
This formula works by looking at the specified criteria and returning an answer depending on the value of the cell. The “value_if_true”, when the value meets the criteria and “value of false” if it doesn’t.
5. Text Function
It has many uses. The primary function of this formula is to turn a cell (or value), into formatted text, as per your choosing. You can also use it to combine text and date, into a single cell.
You can also use the function to embed formatted numbers inside a text. In that, it inserts the numeric output of a formula, and presents it in a specific format, inside the text.
6. Dollar signs
The use of dollar signs in an Excel formula ensures that when you copy a formula in adjacent rows, the exact row and column will remain the same. It makes a relative formula/ function (one that changes depending on where it’s moved); to be an absolute one.
To change the relative formula, to an absolute formula, you should precede the column and row values with dollar signs. Thus, when you copy the formula, you tell Excel not to adjust the cell reference.
7. SUMIF, COUNTIF, AVERAGEIF
The functions without the “if”, will do what you instructed to the chosen array of data. The “if” part of the formulas will cause Excel to return a result, depending on the chosen array and whether it meets the given criterion.
COUNTIF will return the number of cells that meet your specified criteria. As for SUMIF, it adds the numbers in the selected range of cells, and it returns a numerical value. Whereas, AVERAGEIF return the average of the numbers.
8. Combine Cells “&”
Are you looking for excel homework help, to assist you in combining different cells into one? Say you have a dataset with people first and last names in separate columns. Rather than copy-pasting each cell, from row to row, you can use the “&” sign in your function.
To space out the names you will need your formula to appear like this: (=A2&" "&B2). Just using (=A2&B2) function will leave out the necessary space. If you are having trouble with the function of “&”, you can use.
9. Concatenate
It works the same way as the “&” sign. That means it allows you to combine information from different cells, into a single string. Remember to instruct Excel to include the necessary spaces, by including the two double quotes, and space (“ ”).
10. INDEX MATCH
This formula will enable you to combine data in separate sheets, into one, even when the column values in the excel sheets aren’t the same. If you use VLOOKUP, in such a scenario and especially for large datasets, it may lead to errors, and it will be tedious.
It is an INDEX formula with the MATCH formula nested inside, i.e. INDEX (table array, MATCH formula). The INDEX function calls on excel to look for a given value on a range of numbers.
Then, depending on a given value and matched against a separate array, MATCH tells excel the number of cells it should count into the INDEX’s range.
Conclusion
Using excel to manipulate your datasets is exciting, and mainly when you know which formula(s) to use. We hope that this list will guide you in the right direction, as you begin to understand why excel will make the process of automating your report, much more manageable.